Exclusive — Wasserman Schultz: Boehner's 'Plan B' a Tax Increase

It’s not often that Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, agrees with conservative leaders – but when it comes to whether to describe House Speaker John Boehner’s “Plan B” proposal as a “tax increase,” she does.

Wasserman Schultz told Breitbart News late Wednesday that House Speaker John Boehner isn’t being honest with his caucus or the American people when he claims his fiscal cliff “Plan B” isn’t a tax increase.

When asked if the Boehner “Plan B” was indeed a tax increase, Wasserman Schultz responded: “Yes.”

That means Wasserman Schultz agrees with conservative leaders across the country who have characterized Boehner’s “Plan B” as a tax hike, too. Many organizations have promised to present primary challenges to Republicans who vote for the Boehner “Plan B” with true conservatives. 

The only major organization that didn’t outright characterize it as a tax increase was Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform. Many of those other conservative leaders argue Norquist is trying to provide some cover for GOP leadership, all of whom would violate the pledge against tax increases his organization created between Republican lawmakers and voters.

Wasserman Schultz told Breitbart News that Boehner’s proposal is a tax increase because: 

The average millionaire would get about a $50,000 tax break [otherwise]. It’s a tax increase – and it proposes absolutely no spending cuts. It’s a tax increase on the middle class, too, because it ends the Child Care tax credit and the EITC [Earned Income Tax Credit].

Wasserman Schultz said she thinks Boehner and other House GOP leaders are trying to sell “Plan B” as something other than a tax increase to the American people because:

It’s not a solution. It’s not a balanced plan. To me, it signals the Speaker is not serious about solving this problem and coming together to actually find common ground and finish the job the president has made mountainous compromise [on]. For this to be the response, it’s irresponsible and it’s harmful to the middle class.